Apple has released the first major update for its HomePod smart speaker - and has its sights firmly set on Amazon and Google.

The new iOS 11.4 update released today adds multi room capabilities to the Siri smart speaker, allowing users to play music in other rooms, in in every room at once.

It comes as Apple is believed to be putting the finishing update to a major update to its Siri AI software.

The free update also adds new features such as the ability to store iMessages in the cloud.

Scroll down for video

The new iOS 11.4 update released today adds multi room capabilities to the Siri smart speaker, allowing users to play music in other rooms, in in every room at once.

HOW TO UPDATE TO IOS 11.4

Users simply need to go to settings/software update on their phone to update.

As well as the Airplay 2 feature, iOS 11.4 also adds Messages in iCloud, which was first announced a year ago. It keeps conversations up-to-date across all your Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.

When you delete a message from one device, that change syncs to all your devices.

Australian site the Apple Post noted that if a user asks Siri about WWDC, Apple's Wordwide Developers Conference, which is being held in San Jose next week, she won't provide any useful information but will instead drop cryptic hints.

Share this article

Share

17 shares

The update allows users to use the new AirPlay 2 feature to play music in any room from any room, move music from one room to another or play the same song everywhere using an iOS device, HomePod, Apple TV or by asking Siri.

But by last month, Apple slashed sales forecasts for the HomePod as inventory for the device began to pile up, Bloomberg reported, citing sources close to the situation.

It also cut HomePod orders with one of its manufacturers that assembles the device for the company, Inventec, according to Bloomberg.

However, it appears the firm is now addressing many of the problems

The wireless seven-inch HomePod currently availalble uses spatial awareness technology to sense its place in a room and adjust audio output accordingly. It has an Apple-designed upward-facing woofer paired with the custom A8 chip and is made of seamless mesh fabric

'HomePod, the breakthrough wireless speaker from Apple, now delivers an even more immersive listening experience throughout the home with support for HomePod stereo pairs and a new multi-room audio system in iOS 11.4.,' the firm said.

It allows users to use the new AirPlay 2 feature to play music in any room from any room, move music from one room to another or play the same song everywhere using an iOS device, HomePod, Apple TV or by asking Siri.

HomePod is available in the US, UK and Australia and arrives in Canada, France and Germany starting June 18, the firm said.

HOW DOES APPLE'S HOMEPOD COMPARE TO AMAZON ECHO AND GOOGLE HOME?

Apple’s new HomePod speaker has launched in the UK – the technology giant’s take on the smart speaker market currently dominated by Amazon and Google.

But how does the speaker, which Apple says is more of a music device than a smart home hub, compare to the popular smart speakers?

– How much does it cost?

HomePod is significantly more expensive than its smart speaker rivals, costing £319 ($349) compared to £90 ($125) for the Amazon Echo and £129 ($180) for Google Home.

– Why such a big difference?

The key reason is the amount of additional audio technology built into the HomePod.

Whereas the Google Home houses a solitary speaker and the Amazon Echo one woofer and one tweeter, HomePod houses a large woofer and array of seven tweeters to bring sound output more akin to dedicated home speaker systems than a smart home device.

Apple’s new HomePod speaker (pictured) has launched in the UK – the technology giant’s take on the smart speaker market currently dominated by Amazon and Google

The result is significantly more powerful audio performance from the HomePod compared to its two rivals.

A better comparison would be the Sonos One home speaker for example – a dedicated music speaker – and HomePod may have an audio edge on that too.

HomePod is significantly more expensive than its smart speaker rivals, costing £319 ($349) compared to £90 ($125) for the Amazon Echo (pictured) and £129 ($180) for Google Home

– What else can HomePod do?

Because it has Apple’s virtual assistant Siri built in, HomePod is able to follow basic voice commands around playing music, but also answering some basic trivia questions and controlling other smart home accessories such as lighting, similar to both the Amazon Echo and Google Home.

When using Apple Music though, the HomePod can display an impressive level of knowledge. Using the device’s Musicologist feature, it is able to provide extensive details on tracks when asked, including details on who is playing what instrument, as well as year of release and album details.

– What are its limitations?

Despite the impressive music set-up, the HomePod does have some limitations.

HomePod is locked into Apple’s own ecosystem, meaning it is only compatible with Apple Music. In contrast its rivals support a range of streaming services, including Spotify.

HomePod also lacks some basic functionality such as the ability to run more than a single timer at once, to stream live radio, or provide recipe details when asked.

The voice of Siri also lacks the natural flow of either Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant – among the artificial intelligence systems it still sounds the most robotic.

– Do I need an existing Apple device for it to work?

Yes – in order to set-up HomePod you’ll need an iOS device running the most recent version of the software (iOS 11.2.5). A connection via Apple’s own AirPlay technology is needed to connect the speaker to the internet, and link an Apple Music account to it for streaming.

The set-up process is less cumbersome than for the Echo or Google Home, which use a companion app and require some WiFi network selection.

In contrast, HomePod set-up begins simply by holding your iOS device close to the speaker, this then automatically sets-up the device, including syncing Apple Music account and WiFi network information.

Whereas the Google Home (pictured) houses a solitary speaker and the Amazon Echo one woofer and one tweeter, HomePod houses a large woofer and array of seven tweeters to bring sound output more akin to dedicated home speaker systems than a smart home device

– What’s the verdict?

HomePod is an exceptional home music player, the best in its price range and several above it, offering a music listening experience that will delight any audiophile.

If your desire is a home audio system to be envied, then HomePod is for you.

However, in other areas the device is limited by how locked into Apple’s own ecosystem it is. Anyone considering investing in a HomePod must be both an Apple device user already, and be willing to use only Apple Music as their streaming service on the device.

This is also a big ask for a product that still lags behind its Amazon and Google rivals in the virtual assistant stakes. Siri on HomePod is by far the most limited of the three when it comes to smart interactions and so if you’re looking for a smart device to run your smart home, you should consider looking elsewhere.